Cam mechanism for knitting machines



E. A. HIRNER.

CAM MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I9, I9IB- Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

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CAM MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- I9, I9I8.

1 ,41 1,355, Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

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CAM MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION HLED SEPT. 19, 1918.

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pickers and depressing pickers.

UNITED STATES EMIL A. manna, or. ALILEN'rowN, rmfnsynvanm.

CAM MECHANISM FOR KNITTING- MACHINES.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

Application. filed September 19, 1918. Serial No. 254,797.

circular knitting machines employed for the production of seamless hosiery.

In such circular knitting machines, there are generally employed a multiplicity of needles movably'mounted in radialslots or grooves in a so-called needle-cylinder. The stitch-forming activity of these needles involves up and down movement thereof rela tively to the needle-cylinder, and such movement is commonly produced by cam surfaces onacylinder concentric with the needle cylinder which engage appropriate projections (termed butts) on the needles. .To bring about this movement of the needles by the cam cylinder surfaces, the needle and cam cylinders are given a turning movement relatively to one another.

The formation or fashioning of the heel and toe portions of a stocking involves varia tion in the number of needles in action, and

this is accomplishedby periodically andsuccessively shifting certain needles to such positions that they will not be acted on by the stitch-producing cam surfaces of the cam cylinder, and vice-versa. This operation is known as picking,the respective mechanisms or devices by which the needles are put out of or into action being commonly designated and distinguished as elevatli rlilg e necessary discrimination of the pickers between the needles to be picked and the rest is produced by differences in their butts,-- those picked being the short butt needles, and the others the long butt needles. During the fashioning operation, the relative turning movement of needle and cam cylinders which produces the stitches is oscillatory, while at other times it is one of'continuous rotation.

My present invention is concerned especially with the picking by which the needles are rendered inactive, and may be employed in connection wlth various well-known types of plckers for performing the reverse operation.

My invention is especially advantageous in permitting a closer grouping of the knitting cams and also the picking of long as well as short butt needles.

To this end my invention includes, in addition to the usual pair of stitch cams, mechanism wherein the functions of the center cam and the lifting picker are combined in a single device or unit, movable about a universal pivot, so as to be capable of being automatically shifted in either direction during oscillatory knitting.

My invention also c'omprehends a lifting picker, consisting of two relatively movable parts, with surfaces which conjointly form the engagement notch for the needle. Associated with the picker are means for nor mally maintaining the movable parts with their surfaces in fixed relation, but having capacity for permitting independent motion.

thereof to release the needles after the idle level has been reached.

The mechanism by which these results are attained will be best understood from the following description referred to in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. I is a plan view of a portion of a cam cylinder conveniently illustrating my invention. I

Fig. II is a vertical sectional elevation of the same along the line IIII in Fig. I.

Fig. III is a plan section indicated by the arrows III--III in Fig. II.

Fig. IV is a similar view showing the moving parts in a different position.

Figs. V, VI and VII are detail perspective illustrations of the combined center cam and lifting picker. a.

Figs. VIII and IX are further details illustrating the construction of the same, these views being indicated by the arrows VIII-VIII in Fig. III and IX-IX in Fig.

II respectively.

Figs. X to XIII inclusive are diagrammatic illustrations --'showing the relative position of the movable parts with respect to the stationary cam group during circular and oscillatory knitting.

As herein illustrated, the cam cylinder 1, is integrally formed. with the usual bevel gear 2, by which it may be actuated, either for rotation or oscillation in a manner already well understood. As best shown n Figs. X to XIII, the'knitting cam group is of the usual configuration, consisting of the stitch cams 3 and 4, symmetrically located with respect to the lower middle cam 5, the raising cams 6 and 7, and the guard cams 8 and 9. 1

The upper center cam era] practice, is mounted in fixed relation, to the cylinder, is in the present instance capable of .floating under the action-of the needles from side to side and co-operating with either of the stitch cams according tothe direction of rotation of the cylinder.

This freedom of action accorded the cam 10, is due to the peculiarity of its mounting, which consists in a pivot arrangement admitting of universal motion. Said cam is inteQally formed with an arm 11 (Figs. I to If) extending outwardl through a V- shaped opening 12, in the cy inder wall, and is fulcrumed at 13, on the flattened downward extension 14, of the pivot post 15 (Fig. V.) Said post is journalled for free oscillation in a bracket bearing 16, fixed to the cylinder, and is retained therein by means of a spring clip 17, as best shown inrFigs. I and II. This double pivotal mounting of the center cam 10 permits universal substantially bodily movement thereof, up and down or sidewise independently, substantially in the cylindrical plane of action of the stitch cams 3 and 4, without substantial variation in the angular relation of its active end portion with reference to them, and likewise without variation of the inclination of its needle-guide surfaces. This simplifies the movement of the parts,and tends to make their action quicker andeasier.

It is to be noted that when the center cam 10, occupies an active position with respect to either of the stitch cams 3 or 4, (for example see Figures X and XIII), a sub stantially continuous cam edge is presented to the needles. In other words, the active edge of the center cam coincides substantially with that of the particular stitch cam under consideration and is co-functional therewith in directing and guiding the needles. In this way, the jarring of the needles, which occurs at each change of the direction of their travel, is greatly lessenedit being remembered that in the usual construction wherein the center cam occupies a fixed position between the two stiteh cams, a break is occasioned in the knitting wave as the needles descendto formthe stitch.

In order to perform the operation of a lifting picker in addition to its usual function, the center cam has been surmounted by a picker member 20, having recesses 21 and 22, and capable of a limited independent motion, as will be later described. The for- 10 which, in gen-.

ward edge of the member 20, is arcuate in profile, as seen from above, and when in the normal position illustrated in Fig. III it coincides with that of the cam 10 and is in recesses 20 and 21, form the needle engaging notches. The member 20 is prolon ed rearward or outwardly in the form 0 a dovetailshank 23,".and fulcrumed about a double pivot consistingfof the pins 24 and 25, which are fixed in the shank and project through an opening 26,- of substantially semicircular contour, in, the arm.11 Fi IX. Pins 24 and 25 are fixed at their ower ends in a block.27, which is subject to the pull of a spring 28, attached at its other end to the flattened downward projection 14, of the pivot post 15. The spring yieldingly maintains the member 20 in its norma position with respect to the cam 10, which position is determined through the simultaneous engagement of the pins 24 and 25, with the straight edge 29 of the opening 26, in the arm 11, as clearly shown in Fix. IX. The pin 24 and 25 become alternately functional. as pivots depending-upon. the direction of motion induced in the member throu h the. needles in operation. (See Figs. I, and VII.) It is also to be noted that spring 28, in addition to the function above described, tends to hold the cam 10 yieldingly depressed as shown in Fi II.

In order to restrain the independent action of the member 20, until the needle has been raised to the idle level, I have provided the pivot post 15, with a laterally extending tongue 30, which plays in a slot 31, in the arm 11 of the cam 10, and is adapted to engage within a notch 32, in the outer end of the shank 23, of the member 20. The action of these elements will be best understood by referring to Fig. II, wherein the member 20 is shown locked in central position with respect to the arm 11, by the action of the tongue 30. This relation obtains until the arm.11, is swung upwardly to an extent which will bring the upper edge thereof into coincidence with the upper edge of the tongue (Fig. VI), whereupon the member 20 is released for independent movement under the action of the needle engaged withinone of its recesses. After the member 20 has been swung to the requisite extent to release the needle, it automatically returns to its normal position under the action of the spring 28. The vertical movement -of the arm 11, of cam 10, is limited by a set screw stop 33. The adjustability of this stop permits the adjustment of the positions at which the cam 10, comes to rest in its co-functional activities 'with the stitch cams 3 and 4, thereby permitting compensation for wear upon thelowerapex of the center cam as the needles move about the same.

The combined lateral and upward movement of the center cam 10 and the picker member 20 is controlledand guided by sliding of the tips 40, and 41, of the picker memher, and the corresponding oppositely inclined needle guiding and stitch forming surfaces of the centre camalong the respective edges 42, and 43, of the stitch cam blocks the stitch cams proper. The wear attending the guidance of the parts is thus restricted so as not to affect the needle-engaging portions of the cam 10, and the picker member 20.

The normal operative relation of the several cams for rotary knitting is shown in Fig. X, the direct-ion of rotation of'the cam cylinder being indicated by the arrow. The long butt needles usually employed in, stocking knitters are diagrammatically represented at 35, in solid black, and the short butt fashioning needles, as open rectangles at 36. During tubular knitting resulting from the rotary operation, both sets of needles follow the common path represented in Fig. X in the well known way.

In Fig. XI, I have shown the position of the parts at the beginning of the first reverse oscillatory movement of the cam cylinder 1 in knitting theheel or toe suture of the stocking. The long butt needles 35, have been elevated to the idle level in a known manner preparatory to the commencement of the fashioning operation. As the cam cylinder 1 turns in the direction of the arrow, the butt of the first needle of the fashioning group 36, will engage within the recess 22, of the member 20, and carry said member 20 along with it as shown in Fig. XII. The cam 10, will move with the member 20, it being at this timev locked thereto by the tongue 30, as previously described, and the two will be bodily swung about the universal fulcrum constituted by the pivots 13 and 15, under the guidance of the edge 42 of the cam block 3 which engages the cam 10 and the tip 40 of. the picker member as already described. The cam 10 and the member 20, will thus be moved in the angular direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. XII, until the level is reached at which the shank of the member 20, is freed from its engagement with the tongue 30, where.

upon the cam. 10, will be held from further movement by the top screw 33, with the result that the picker member proceeds to swing independently also in the direct-ion of the arrow about its pivot 24:, to release the said first needle 36 and deliver the same to 3 and 4 whose inner faces constitute normal position with-respect to the cam 10,

under the action of spring 28. When the needles have all cleared cam 10, the latter will automatically resumethe position shown in Fig. XI, in preparation for the succeeding movement of the cylinder in the, opposite direction. The same cycle of operations will then be repeated in a reverse order, in a manner which will be obvious from the foregoing description.

It is to be particularly noted that thereceiving recesses 21 and 22, of the picker member are comparatively deep so that long butt needles may be picked with the same facility as the short butt needles. It is a characteristic of my invention that notwithstanding the lengths of the butts acted upon, the needles will all be elevated to a common level, since the independent action of the picker member is confined to swinging ina horizontal plane. The added scopethus accorded the picker is advantageous in the production of certain classes of work where in the fashioning is carriedbeyond the median line at each side of the stocking. In such instances, certain of the long buttneedles operate along with the short butt needles in effecting similar results.

My inventlon is of course to be associated with a suitable depressing picker mechanism by which the fashioning operation is completed. Such depressing picker mechanism may be of'any standard type and for this reason is not illustrated in the draw in s.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a pair of stitch cams; of a center cam with active automatically shiftable to bring its said in- (lined surfaces into operative relation to one or other of said stitch cams alternately, during oscillatory knitting, without variation of inclination.

3 e In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a cam cylinder and a pair of stitch cams carried thereby; of a movable center cam with a supporting arm extending out through an opening in the wall of the cylinder; a universal pivotal mounting for the outer end of said arm permitting automatic shifting of said center cam into operative relation with either of said stitch cams during oscillatory knitting; and means for guiding the movement of said arm.

4. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a cam cylinder and a pair of stitch cams carried thereby; of a movable. center cam with a supporting arm extending out through an opening in the wall of the cylinder; and a mounting for the outer end of said arm permitting universal substantially bodily movement of said center cam substantially in the plane of action of said stitch cams, so as to render said center cam automatically shiftable into operative relation with either of said stitch cams, during oscillatory knitting, without substantial variation of angular relation to them.

5. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a cam cylinder and a pair of stitch cams carried thereby; of a movable center cam with a supporting arm extending out through an opening in the wall of the cylinder, and pivoted to swing horizontally and vertically about axes outside the cylinder. 1

6. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a pair of stitch cams; of a double acting centrally mounted lifting picker with active portion substantially bodily movable, up and down or sidewise independently, substantially in the plane of action of said stitch cams, and automatically shiftable in either direction during oscillatory knitting movement.

7. In a circular knitting machine the combination of a pair of stitch cams; a movable center cam capable of being shifted into operative relation with either of said stitch cams; and a double acting lifting picker member attached to said center cam and movable therewith and relatively thereto.

8. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a pair of stitch cams; a movable center cam capable of being shifted into operative relation with either of said stitch cams; a double acting lifting picker member pivoted to said center cam and capable of independent motion with respect thereto.

9. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a pair of stitch cams: a movable center cam capable of being shifted into operative relation with either of said stitch cams; a double acting lifting picker member pivoted to said center cam and capable of imlcpeinlent motion with respect thereto, and means for locking said member and center cam in normal relation during the elevation of the needle to idle level.

1(). In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a pair of stitch cams; a movable center cam, capable of being automatically shifted into operative relation with either of said stitch cams; an independently movable double acting lifting picker member, pivoted to said center cam; yielding means for depressing said picker member into the path of the fashioning needles during oscillatory knitting, so that, when the first needle of the series engages the picker member, the center cam will be moved substantially bodily therewith to be engaged by the succeeding needles; and means for holding said cam and picker member in fixed relation during the first portion of their travel; capable of subsequently releasing said pickermember from the center cam for independent motion in feeding the first needle to idle level.

11. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a pair of stitch cams; a movable center cam capable of being automatically shifted into operative relation with either of said stitch cams, and a supporting arm forming an integral extension of said cam; a pivot post parallel to the cylinder axis for the said arm; a double acting picker member having an integral shank fulcrumed to the arm of said center cam; and a tongue forming part of said pivot post adapted to engage withina notch in the shank of the picker member to hold the latter in normal fixed relation with the center cam, but permitting its release when a predetermined point in their combined travel has been reached.

12. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a pair of stitch cams; a movable center cam capable of being automatically shifted into operative relation with either of said stitch cams, with a supporting arm forming an integral part of said center cam and suspended at its outer end in a universal pivot; a double acting picker member supported for independent movement upon said arm; means for yieldingly holding said picker member normally in alignment with the center cam, said means including a pair of spaced pins operating in alternation as fulcrums for the picker member, a straight edge adapted for co-operation with said pins, and a spring normally holding said pins in engagement with the straight edge.

13. A picker device for circular knitting machines, consisting of two separate parts conjointly movable and operative as a unit in elevating the needle to the idle level, but

having capacity for relative independent motion to release the needle when it has reached the idle level.

14. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a pair of stitch cams; a movable center cam capable of being shifted into operative relation with either of said stitch cams; and a double acting lifting picker member attached to said center cam and movable therewith; and an adjustable stop for limiting the vertical movement of the said center cam.

15. In a circular knitting machine the combination of a pair of stitch cams; a movable center cam capable of being shifted into co-operative relation with either of said stitch cams; a double acting lifting picker member movably mounted upon said center cam; and means locking the center cam and picker member as a single unit during the elevation of the needle to idle level, but thereafter permitting independent swinging of the plcker member in a horizontal lane to release the needle.

16. n a circular knitting machine the combination of a pair of stitch cams; a movable center cam capable of being shifted into operative relation with either of said stitch cams; a double acting lifting picker member movably mounted upon said center cam; means locking the center cam and picker member as a single unit during the elevation of the needle toidle level; but thereafter permitting independent swinging of the picker member in a horizontal plane to release the needle; and means for adjustably controlling the upward movement of the said picker member.

17. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a pair of stitch cams; a movable center cam capable of being shifted into operative relation with either of said stitch cams; and a double acting lifting picker member attached to said center cam and movable therewith; a V shaped guide for determining the path of combined movement of the center cam and picker member and lugs formed on said picker member and adapted for cooperation with the said guide.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 10th day of September, 1918.

EMIL A. HIRNER.

Witnesses:

JAMES H. BELL, E. L. FULLERTON. 

